My Philosophy of Leadership

MY PHILOSOPHY OF LEADERSHIP Christine Harris Byrd In my own definition, leadership is an attitude, not a position or routine, and not based on one certain formula or method. It is based on one’s experiences and personal values, and therefore no two leaders will never be the same. There are only a few characteristics that categorize them together. Leaders are those whose actions reflect their heart. They inspire themselves and others in a way that creates a chain reaction of positive events, thoughts, changes, and of course, attitudes.Whether their attitude affects a whole society or one single person, they are a leader because they genuinely care for the well-being of others and live according to their own principles. Most importantly, a leader is one who does not settle. They are always striving to grow as an individual, learn more, accomplish more, and challenge the norm. Based on my personal experiences it is prevalent that I will become more of a transformational leader ve rsus being a transactional leader. So much of my growth has been based on inner-challenges and the influence of other leaders.I agree with the concept that stresses the importance of â€Å"powerful personal characteristics† and using your talents and skills to help and influence others. I have a fiery personality, which means I become very passionate for what is important to me and let my emotions dictate how I think, feel, and act. Most distinctively I believe that the main purpose of our actions is to aspire for happiness. One cannot truthfully portray leadership if his actions do not make him happy. To put it simply, I believe that being a transformational leader is a lifestyle.Never does one reach an end point or master the skill. As they strive to transform others, they too continue to grow. There are five main components of my personal leadership philosophy. The first and foundational component on which it is built on is â€Å"hard work. † An important part of ha ving a leadership attitude is by illustrating your words through tangible actions. Rolling up your sleeves and diving in or â€Å"going the extra mile† establish both credibility and respect. In my experience, hard work can also come in the form of a weakness.I am most content when I can just put my head down and work, but I have learned that when working together with others, I have to be conscious of other’s opinions and pace. I believe that it also means that one has to be resilient because the harder you work and the more times that you put yourself out there, the higher the chances are that you are going to fail. The difference between someone who succeeds and someone who does not is how one reacts to the situation. The second component is to be a â€Å"forever student. † John F.Kennedy defined this perfectly when he said, â€Å"Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other. † Whether we are working in our area of expertise, teaching someon e else, or simply living there is always room for improvement. I believe that everyone has a story to tell and by listening we are exposed to a new perspective that changes the way we see things or strengthens our standing beliefs. This also ties in to the idea of not being an individual who settles. Being curious, asking questions, and purely just listening are some of the most essential habits a leader can have; they are the spark plug for creativity.Components three and four are closely connected. To â€Å"be happy† and â€Å"have passion,† as previously mentioned, are two characteristics that are naturally intertwined with our personalities and functional needs. Often time’s leaders struggle with their conscious over taking the path that they are expected to take and the one that makes them happy. In a society where â€Å"time is of the essence† we as leaders must prioritize. Happiness is the key to what makes each of us tick and passion is the specia l ingredient that creates determination, energy, focus, and a servant heart.I know that I am going to have more respect and admiration for an individual who is steadfast and passionate, regardless if their beliefs and priorities align with mine. The fifth and most personal component for me is to â€Å"take risks. † Every situation we approach in life involves some sort of risk. Every decision, experience, action, goal, and emotion has both a positive and negative outlook. The final lines of a quote that has become my personal motto can best define this component: Risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.The person, who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, and is nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn feel, change, grow, love, or live. Chained by his certitudes, he is a slave, he has forfeited freedom. Only a person who risks is free. As individuals who continue to strive for that leadership attitude, we h ave to be able to throw all cards down on the table, and continue to do it over and over if we ever expect any gain or satisfaction. Of course as the most challenging component, it is also the most important.Ultimately is all boils down to the question of â€Å"did I give everything; do everything that I possibly could to make the outcome positive? † If so, then regardless of the outcome, you have shown positive leadership. The leadership theories that best describe my personal philosophy are servant and authentic leadership. The life-changing experiences and memories that have had the most significant impact on my life are the ones that challenged me to become a better person and that came from the kindness of others.I have seen firsthand how hard work, learning, happiness, passion, and taking risks can change one’s purpose in life and have learned that when we surround ourselves with those components and others who share them, it creates a positive chain reaction. I value the opportunity to live based on my personal values and firmly believe in leadership that is modeled to serve and benefit from each other. I have always believed that effective leadership encourages everyone to participate in the decision making process.The effective leader is one who can clearly articulate the vision of the organization to all stakeholders in a meaningful and accessible way. The simplest way to describe my personal belief about effective leadership is that , â€Å"the (leader) needs to model what management researcher Robert Greenleaf called servant leadership- a philosophy that encourages collaboration, trust, foresight, listening, and ethical use of power and empowerment. † (Krajewski, 2004). My mission is, as a leader and a follower, to empower those around me to use their natural alents to assist the organization as well as themselves. I believe that the foundation of effective leadership is personal integrity. My actions will serve as an example f or others and will be based upon honesty, respect and fairness. I will keep my word and will treat people fairly and with respect for diversity and the rights of each individual. I will trust the members of my team to make sound, ethical decisions and I will guide and support them. I also aim to develop, through example, a learning community among my co-workers. As a leader, my goal is to be a collaborator.Everyone has something unique to bring to the table. It is my hope that they environment that I co-create encourages awareness and cultivation of this authenticity. DePree (1989) defines leadership as follows: â€Å"The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between the two, the leader must become a servant and a debtor. † References: . De Pree, Max. The Art of Leadership. New York: Doubleday, 1987. Leadership . Krajewski, Bob. . In Their Own Words. Learning From Urban Schools Pages 14-18. March 2005 | Volume 62 | Number 6

Registered Nurse Career Research Essay

Ever since I was a little girl I always wanted to be a nurse and help people who were ill. As I got older, I got more information and decided that I wanted to become a Registered Nurse (RN). Registered nurses care for patients and educate them on health issues to prevent future illnesses. Along with technical skills necessary for the medical profession, registered nurses must have people skills to work closely with patients and their families. Becoming a RN entails formal education from a state-approved nursing school and state licensure. There are generally three educational approaches to becoming a registered nurse. Registered nurses usually train by completing a bachelor’s or associate’s degree program in nursing. Less commonly, registered nurses prepare for the occupation by earning a diploma in nursing. Graduates of any of these programs are generally eligible for licensure and entry-level employment as registered nurses. Nursing students may choose from a variety of education options to become a registered nurse. Some teaching hospitals offer 3-year diploma programs in nursing; however, these programs are rare. Most RN’s earn associate degrees or bachelor’s degrees in nursing. The skills needed for this job are people skills, emotional stability, CPR, First Aid and a second language would also help. I plan on taking French throughout the university so I’ll be considered trilingual and I plan on updating my CPR and First Aid yearly. San Diego City College’s nursing  education program offers associate’s degrees for students who want to become RNs, as well as a program for LVNs seeking RN certification but not the degree. Students learn through classroom study and clinical experience in health care facilities. It will take two years with open admission and the tuition for in-state is $898. San Diego State University’s School of Nursing offers programs that train entry-level RNs as well as provide working professionals  with advanced studies to continue their education and careers. All bachelor’s degree students must take part in an international learning experience. It’s a four years with a 30% acceptance rate an d the tuition for in-state is $6,578. There are four general duties a RN does on a daily basis. The first duty is evaluating a patient’s physical, mental and emotional health. Also an RN’s job is to take vital sings. The second duty is designing and carrying out a treatment plan for the patient. Also bandaging wounds, giving medicine and injections that need to be given. The third duty is to monitor the results of the patient’s treatment to make sure it’s working and the patient is happy with it. Also a RN tells patients about they’re medical options and health issues such as nutrition and personal hygiene. The last duty is to complete and organize records about the patients. RN’s job opportunities are in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and basically any public health building. Also there are many organizations that recruit nurses to go to other countries. England and the U.S are two of the many countries that do this. The salary for a full-time nurse is $35,000 to $60,000 a year. Benefits include paid holidays, paid sick days and dental care. Casual (on call) nurses earn $17 to $35 an hour. Nurses work in hospitals, nursing homes, walk in clinics, prisons, schools, ect. Hazards of the job include contracting an infectious disease from a patient and injury from instruments, chemicals or gases. Nurses also get injured from violent patients and their families. They work irregular hours, nights, evenings and holidays with 12-hour shifts. Job demand is high because of the storage of nurses in Canada and people are always getting sick. People will always get sick therefore nurses will be part of the future. According to national data  published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for nurses is expected to increase 26% by 2020, which is much faster than the average occupation. The BLS further states that registered nurses with at least a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) are expected to have the best job opportunities. Prospective students are encouraged to conduct  independent research to determine actual job growth rates, which vary according to location, education and experience. Many employers have instituted hiring policies which require all RNs to have BSN degrees. Others will employ RNs without a BSN, but require new RNs to complete their BSN degree within a certain amount of time. My goal is to become a registered nurse and to dedicate my life to helping people. I’m determined to ​  become a nurse to touch lives not only as a provider of health care but also as a teacher. I am committed to excelling personally and professionally in all that I do and to serve as a role model by leading a healthy lifestyle. I came to this goal as a result of my family background and my life experiences. I have a strong work ethic. I am very loyal and trustworthy and always the person my friends, family and co-workers would go to for advice or to empathize. I love helping people and have a big heart. I am the kind of person who will give you my lunch to someone who has no money to eat. I’ll take that extra five minutes and listen to a patient when I am pressed for time because health care is not only to provide treatment, but it’s also expressing patience and being a great listener. When I was looking into career options, nursing attracted my attention for a variety of reasons, you could go anywhere, work with adults, children, in public health, prisons, physicians’ offices, schools, factories, and were only limited by your level of education; I found that nursing could be whatever I wanted to make of it. People need nurses in all aspects of life. If I were to ever feel â€Å"expended out† in one area, I could educate myself and expand into another field of nursing. If I needed to move to another country, I could transfer and easily find my niche there. The sensation that you feel when you know you accomplished your goal to aid an individual is priceless. The potential is endless in this field, from specialty areas to general population, and from  newborns through geriatrics. Nursing is probably the most personally rewarding job there is. Bibliography Occupational Outlook Handbook. â€Å"Registered Nurse.† [Online] Available http://explorehealthcareers.org/en/Career/21/Registered_Nurse_RN January 12, 2015 Registered Nurses [Online] Available http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm​ January 12, 2015

Body Shop Proposal

A. This is because they choose to focus on targeting working adults which is leaned towards a mature image and does not appeals to teens. B. They will lose the potential to increase their sales volume if this continues. II. There are three main possible themes that we would like to propose. A. Firstly, â€Å"Fire† will be emphasising on the strong yet feminine aspects of the product. B. Secondly, â€Å"Earth† will bring attention on the environmentally-friendly nature of the products C. And lastly, the â€Å"Air† theme showcases the comfort level of the products. D. This is a proposal for an advertisement spread in Seventeen selling The Body Shop Bath Body products. ?There is a choice of three themes for the campaign, â€Å"Fire†, â€Å"Earth†, and â€Å"Water†. The recommended products for the 4-ad campaign are to be bath shower gel, body lotion, body butter, and body scrub. P2: Potential (3 paras) I. The Body Shop is currently lacking of advertisement directed to teenagers. A. For a cosmetics retail company, The Body Shop noticeably lacks of photographs of models with beautiful hair and perfect skin, which would attract attention of teenagers. B. Currently, The Body Shop is targeting working adults and the advertisement that they made is leaned more towards a mature image. This image does not appeal to teenagers. II. The Body Shop does not appeal to teenagers and in doing so, it loses a huge number of potential customers. A. Teenagers are not attracted to The Body Shop because of a lack of celebrity representation. B. With the lack of advertisement, targeted audience will not be encourage to trial purchase, brand switch and develop brand loyalty towards The Body Shop. III. Sales would be greatly boosted if The Body Shop were able to appeal to teenagers. A. The Body Shop will be able to maximise it’s profits because Singaporeans teenagers aged 15-19 are very willing to spend money on body products. B. Products such as body products could easily allow the consumer to develop brand loyalty towards the brand because they would have develop a habit for using our brand’s product. This results in repeated purchases and promotes sales in long term. P3: Possibilities (3 paras) I. The first theme, â€Å"Fire† theme will emphasize the strong yet feminine aspects of the product. A. â€Å"Fire† will pitch the products in a sexy yet elegant way, appealing to girls who want to be seen as confident and independent women. B. For example, in the Body butter advertisement, we can feature a model clad in only lingerie and high heels and applying body butter on her body. This would suggest that one would feel confident with their body after using our products. The main colour of this advertisement will be red, black and white to give off a Parisian feel, which represents elegance, yet at the same time emphasizes on the fiery and bold aspects of the theme. II. The second theme, â€Å"Earth† will focus attention on the environmentally friendly nature of the products. A. Products would come across as environmental and relaxing under the â€Å"Earth† theme and would appeal to both males and females because it makes them feel comfortable. B. The advertisement for bath shower gel portray a model unwinding in a bathtub full of soapy water, implying that she had just used the product and suggest that one would feel relaxed after using the product. The background of this advertisement could be a natural setting filled with trees and plants to emphasize on the nature aspects of the theme. III. The third theme, the â€Å"Air† theme, will showcase the comfort level of the products. A. Under the â€Å"Air† theme, products would be pitch as simple yet lasting comfort, appealing to both genders because of the theme’s purity and freshness. B. One example of a body lotion advertisement under the â€Å"Air† theme is to do a compare and contrast of a model who applied the body lotion in the morning and the same model looking energetic and fresh at night to represent the lasting effects and the comfort level can be seen through the model’s cheerful appearance. The advertisement would be in pastel colours to emphasize on the theme’s purity. P4: Proposal (3 paras) I. We have decided to go with the â€Å"Earth† theme because it highlights the key feature of our product and will be effective in attracting our target audience’s interest. A. The Body Shop unique selling point is being environmentally friendly and it is also what the audience associate The Body Shop with. By going along with this theme, audience are able to identify The Body Shop because our concept will be consistent. B. B. Our target audience have a very hectic lifestyle and by portraying a product, which comes across as relaxing to them is a very feasible idea because it is what the target audience need and that is also what they are looking for. This will thus increase sales of the products. II. We have rejected the â€Å"Fire† theme because it doesn’t specifically appeals to our target audiences. A. The â€Å"Fire† theme might seem over-mature to our target audiences and they would not want to be associated with such image. B. The â€Å"Fire† theme might also be inappropriate and clashes with The Body Shop image because The Body Shop has always emphasize that beauty can be achieve even without baring a lot of skin. II. We have also rejected the â€Å"Air† theme because it’s concept is very common in Body products. A. The concept of comfort in a body product is not unique and thus, would not be effective in attracting the targeted audience as it doesn’t stand out. B. Audiences are easily able to find cheaper alternatives with the same benefits. *Total number of paras: 11 (do not create any more paragraphs†¦ it’s 11, no more, no fewer) Body Shop Proposal A. This is because they choose to focus on targeting working adults which is leaned towards a mature image and does not appeals to teens. B. They will lose the potential to increase their sales volume if this continues. II. There are three main possible themes that we would like to propose. A. Firstly, â€Å"Fire† will be emphasising on the strong yet feminine aspects of the product. B. Secondly, â€Å"Earth† will bring attention on the environmentally-friendly nature of the products C. And lastly, the â€Å"Air† theme showcases the comfort level of the products. D. This is a proposal for an advertisement spread in Seventeen selling The Body Shop Bath Body products. ?There is a choice of three themes for the campaign, â€Å"Fire†, â€Å"Earth†, and â€Å"Water†. The recommended products for the 4-ad campaign are to be bath shower gel, body lotion, body butter, and body scrub. P2: Potential (3 paras) I. The Body Shop is currently lacking of advertisement directed to teenagers. A. For a cosmetics retail company, The Body Shop noticeably lacks of photographs of models with beautiful hair and perfect skin, which would attract attention of teenagers. B. Currently, The Body Shop is targeting working adults and the advertisement that they made is leaned more towards a mature image. This image does not appeal to teenagers. II. The Body Shop does not appeal to teenagers and in doing so, it loses a huge number of potential customers. A. Teenagers are not attracted to The Body Shop because of a lack of celebrity representation. B. With the lack of advertisement, targeted audience will not be encourage to trial purchase, brand switch and develop brand loyalty towards The Body Shop. III. Sales would be greatly boosted if The Body Shop were able to appeal to teenagers. A. The Body Shop will be able to maximise it’s profits because Singaporeans teenagers aged 15-19 are very willing to spend money on body products. B. Products such as body products could easily allow the consumer to develop brand loyalty towards the brand because they would have develop a habit for using our brand’s product. This results in repeated purchases and promotes sales in long term. P3: Possibilities (3 paras) I. The first theme, â€Å"Fire† theme will emphasize the strong yet feminine aspects of the product. A. â€Å"Fire† will pitch the products in a sexy yet elegant way, appealing to girls who want to be seen as confident and independent women. B. For example, in the Body butter advertisement, we can feature a model clad in only lingerie and high heels and applying body butter on her body. This would suggest that one would feel confident with their body after using our products. The main colour of this advertisement will be red, black and white to give off a Parisian feel, which represents elegance, yet at the same time emphasizes on the fiery and bold aspects of the theme. II. The second theme, â€Å"Earth† will focus attention on the environmentally friendly nature of the products. A. Products would come across as environmental and relaxing under the â€Å"Earth† theme and would appeal to both males and females because it makes them feel comfortable. B. The advertisement for bath shower gel portray a model unwinding in a bathtub full of soapy water, implying that she had just used the product and suggest that one would feel relaxed after using the product. The background of this advertisement could be a natural setting filled with trees and plants to emphasize on the nature aspects of the theme. III. The third theme, the â€Å"Air† theme, will showcase the comfort level of the products. A. Under the â€Å"Air† theme, products would be pitch as simple yet lasting comfort, appealing to both genders because of the theme’s purity and freshness. B. One example of a body lotion advertisement under the â€Å"Air† theme is to do a compare and contrast of a model who applied the body lotion in the morning and the same model looking energetic and fresh at night to represent the lasting effects and the comfort level can be seen through the model’s cheerful appearance. The advertisement would be in pastel colours to emphasize on the theme’s purity. P4: Proposal (3 paras) I. We have decided to go with the â€Å"Earth† theme because it highlights the key feature of our product and will be effective in attracting our target audience’s interest. A. The Body Shop unique selling point is being environmentally friendly and it is also what the audience associate The Body Shop with. By going along with this theme, audience are able to identify The Body Shop because our concept will be consistent. B. B. Our target audience have a very hectic lifestyle and by portraying a product, which comes across as relaxing to them is a very feasible idea because it is what the target audience need and that is also what they are looking for. This will thus increase sales of the products. II. We have rejected the â€Å"Fire† theme because it doesn’t specifically appeals to our target audiences. A. The â€Å"Fire† theme might seem over-mature to our target audiences and they would not want to be associated with such image. B. The â€Å"Fire† theme might also be inappropriate and clashes with The Body Shop image because The Body Shop has always emphasize that beauty can be achieve even without baring a lot of skin. II. We have also rejected the â€Å"Air† theme because it’s concept is very common in Body products. A. The concept of comfort in a body product is not unique and thus, would not be effective in attracting the targeted audience as it doesn’t stand out. B. Audiences are easily able to find cheaper alternatives with the same benefits. *Total number of paras: 11 (do not create any more paragraphs†¦ it’s 11, no more, no fewer)

Rising to the Challenges of Disability Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Rising to the Challenges of Disability - Essay Example ... Everyone is entitled to all ... rights and freedoms ... without distinction of any kind.... All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination ... and against any incitement to ... discrimination.... Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for ... health and well-being .. Including ... the right to security in the event of ... disability...." --Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Articles 1, 2, 7, and 25 According to the Federal Developmental Disabilities Act of 1984, developmental disabilities are conditions or disorders that significantly affect a child’s progress in his growth and development. Eventually, disabilities limit a person’s self-care, language, learning, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living, and/or economic sufficiency. Some people who do not have such conditions easily take for granted just how d ifficult it can be for those who have, and may swiftly judge and discriminate them for things they are unable to do. However, disability may be viewed in another light that does not directly target the person himself. One example is the social model of disability in New Zealand which does not view disability as something that individuals have but how society treats the impairments of the individual. â€Å"Disability is the process which happens when one group of people create barriers by designing a world only for their way of living, taking no account of the impairments other people have. (New Zealand Ministry of Social Development, 2002, p.1). Vygotsky (1993) shares the same view. He believes that a child with a disability is not a child less developed but rather, has developed differently. What made his development different are the intellectual and social processes that he compensates with in order to still be part of the social milieu despite their impairments. He concludes in the contention that it is the social consequences and socio-psychological realization that determines the fate of the child with disability and not the defect itself (McPhail & Freeman, 2005). Unfortunately, what seems to prevail in terms of societal views on disability is more negative than positive. McPhail & Freeman (2005) explain that the deficiencies of disabled persons as are considered burdens that hinder their productivity as individuals, which leads one to question why well-intentioned teachers (and some parents) focus on what is lacking rather than what is functioning well in their students/ children. For example, one counselor at a Disability Equality Training (DET) studied by Parkinson (2006) admitted, â€Å"I found it very hard to see the person as someone in their own right. I kept looking at their wheelchairs or their glasses. It took me a while to see them just as a person who watched the same TV programmes as me and laughed at the same jokes. I feel sad about that .† (Parkinson, 2006, p. 99). The purpose of the DET is for counsellors to unite and share their views and attitudes about disability and discuss the need to overcome disabling barriers that hinder disabled individuals from functioning to the best of their ability, promote positive self-identities and self-determination in these disabled individuals through counselling (Parkinson, 2006). This is very crucial especially in children who are in the

Art Movements in the Twentieth Century Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Art Movements in the Twentieth Century - Essay Example Frida Kahlo used his paintings to portray the pain that human beings had to go through psychologically. Her life was not a ride in the park as she had various issues to struggle with, like illness and personal relationships; something that pushed her to this artwork, which was therefore a public alarm that people should embrace better relationships with their friends or lovers and be careful not to utter or do things that would interfere with one's psychological wellbeing. It is through her work named, ‘The Two Fridas', in which her personality as well as political intensions were implied; meaning that this was a representation of the personal struggles that revolved around her life as well as those of Mexico, that she was made famous. Frida was known to be a very devoted citizen to her country and is said to have joined the communist party and even took part in public political protests. Her dressing advocated nationalism, and this was also evident in struggling to have Mexico achieve a national identity. Through their artworks, Picasso and Frida Kahlo were able to air their various feelings of what was happening in the society, on behalf of the rest of the people who had no voice as far as such matters are concerned. These were mainly political and social matters that drove them into venturing in the field of artwork, and takes commitment, concern and love for one's people and country to be in such a field. Through their artwork, political leaders became more responsible.

RELIGION IN PROMETHEUS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

RELIGION IN PROMETHEUS - Essay Example We are then prompted to ask, what is the connection between science and religion? The key to Prometheus is the spoiler alert. In its proposition, the engineers with their religion of self-sacrifice are said to have seeded life on earth and elsewhere. Inferring from the film, the crucifixion of Jesus about 2000 years ago is said to have prompted a civil war among the engineers. The theme of the war was founded on the meaning of the Cross Event as practised on earth. Ridley Scotts Prometheus has become the most debated film of the summer. It is beautiful and significant and presents human questions that appear the most primary of the time (Hey, 2008). However, whether the questions are asked well in the film and if the responses given out of that are satisfactory is debatable. One of the most controversial and intriguing thematic concern of the films is the involvement of an overt discussion of faith and science. The character of Dr Elizabeth is a scientist whose father was a missionary in the Catholic Church. The controversy arises in her character. The argument is pegged on the fact that she maintains her religious faith despite her argument for the evidence that an alien ancient species had used genetic engineering to create humanity in its image. Instead of questioning the concept of a supernatural creator, Elizabeth shifts her belief to the credence of an intergalactic God who made the creator species. The 1968 ‘Chariots of the Gods book by Erich Daniken promotes the pseudoscience ‘ancient astronaut theory (Juhant & ZÃŒÅ'alec, 2011). It is quite interesting to imagine how the scientific community would react to Scotts move to embrace this approach. However, it would be more interesting to contemplate the reaction of the religious communities to its plotline. The belief in an external force that plays a role in the creation of humanity could be a concept that has the potential for both anger and delight among the religious groups. It should be

Question-1 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Question-1 - Coursework Example In the current times, the diversity and technology have emerged as important issues within organization that significantly impact performance outcome. The various stakeholders that are influenced by the issues are: employees, consumers, suppliers, interest groups, shareholders etc. The major objective of change management is to bring about organizational change smoothly. Thus, integrating the needs of the various stakeholders and empowering them with information regarding change considerably facilitates the change process. Promoting diversity and affirmative actions within organization hugely helps to create credible image of the firm. Moreover, diverse workforce greatly promotes diverse views and cultural competencies which can provide firms with unique capabilities and help them gain competitive advantage within the industry (Adidam, Phani et al., 2009). Effective communication regarding change is key tool that promotes better understanding of change processes and how change can be exploited as new opportunities. The different beliefs, value system, ideology and cultural paradigms have become essential elements of human interaction (Bloisi, 2007). Thus, promoting cross-cultural understanding across diverse workforce greatly facilitates resolution of workplac e conflicts and helps build constructive relationship and strong teamwork based on mutual respect resulting in higher productive outcome. (words:

Mobile Internet Protocol Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Mobile Internet Protocol - Essay Example However, the higher-level protocols require IP address of a host to be fixed for identifying connections'. IP protocol is therefore a necessary element of the network activities. In this context, many companies that activate in the area of IT technology and especially those which provide network - related services offer to their customers the chance to use Internet even when they are far from their home or office, i.e. when there is a physical distance from the area where the Internet connected device is placed and operate. The particular technology that offers such an advantage is called Mobile IP and it is available by several IT companies including CISCO, IBM, NOKIA and so on, which have included the above technology in their products offering at the same time to the interest customers all the necessary support. According to a general definition of Mobile IP used by CISCO (2006) 'Mobile IP provides users the freedom to roam beyond their home subnet while consistently maintaining their home IP address; This enables transparent routing of IP data grams to mobile users during their movement, so that data sessions can be initiated to them while they roam; it also enables sessions to be maintained in spite of physical movement between points of attachment to the Internet or other networks'. In the same context, it has been stated that Mobile IP is 'a standard that allows users with mobile devices whose IP addresses are associated with one network to stay connected when moving to a network with a different IP address; When a user leaves the network with which his device is associated (home network) and enters the domain of a foreign network, the foreign network uses the Mobile IP protocol to inform the home network of a care-of address to which all packets for the user's device should be sent. Image 1 - Description of a Mobile IP system (Ghosh, 2006) In a similar definition presented by Chen (2006) 'Mobile IP is an internet protocol designed to support host mobility; Its goal is to provide the ability of a host to stay connected to the internet regardless of their location; Mobile IP is able to track a mobile host without needing to change the mobile host's long-term IP address'. It should be noticed that in accordance with Ollikainen (1999) 'when IP routing was originally defined, mobility of hosts was not considered to be an issue because routing methods were built for static networks, where the hosts were unlikely to move from one subnet to another. Thus, the IP address encodes the computer's physical location, and - by default - the location is fixed'. The main element of Mobile IP is therefore the IP protocol which enables the users to access the Internet even when they are far from the device which is connected with the Internet - the use of a mobile node towards the achievement of such an effort is crucial. It should also be noticed that Mobile IP tends to present a different level of performance in accordance with the system in which it is implemented (i.e. capabilities of the specific system) as well as with the type of protocol using for its formulation and configuration. More

CRIMINAL DISCUSS 7 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

CRIMINAL DISCUSS 7 - Essay Example For a defendant to be considered a person with diminished capacity, they must demonstrate a reduced mental capacity. This could be from a disease, mental retardation or substance abuse. Anything that keeps the person from determining right from wrong can be a cause for diminished capacity (http://law.yourdictionary.com/capacity). In order to prepare a legal defense for a person suffering from diminished capacity, I would begin with documenting the cause for the diminished capacity. If the defendant was a steroid user, I would create a history or steroid use. How long have they been taking them? Where did they come from? Why did they start using them? I would then research the possible effects of steroid use in order to prove that steroids can affect a person’s mental capacity. Once this has been researched, I would connect the effects of steroids and the person’s crime together to show that the defendant was not able to distinguish right from wrong during the time of the crime. I would have to prove that the defendant was experiencing the effects of steroids at the time of the crime. It would also be pertinent to have an expert on the effects of steroids as a defense witness during the trial process. As the paralegal on the case, I would research experts in the field in order to select the best one based on the defendant’s crime. In terms of diminished capacity, I think there should be two different levels. One is for people who truly have a mental issue such as developmental delays or mental retardation and one level for those who choose to purposefully alter their mental state by using substances. I agree that if a person has a diminished capacity due to something that has altered their state of mind, they should still be convicted. I also like the idea that they will be convicted of a lesser crime. That seems fair to

TESOL Thesis Statement Essay Example for Free

TESOL Thesis Statement Essay China has arisen in all perspectives of the twenty-first century. Parents in China play crucial roles of children learning and they are now more concern about the English ability their children have enhanced which means teacher must pay greater attention to the communication between parents and teacher and the challenge it brings. Thesis Closed policy The closed policy has created difficulties, for Chinese students in methods of learning and in connecting with foreign cultures. Further, students in China are hard to combine the concepts and cultures they have learned to the reality. For example, they will not be able to surf the internet freely and watch the worldwide TV News. (Jian-Hua Xu 2009) It means they do not have chance to explore themselves to different cultures and learning environment. Self-cultivation China technology and Economic has fast developed in the past ten years. Their living standards and environments have improved quickly. However, the attainments in self-cultivation of people do not process that fast. It needs certain amount of time for people to digest and evolve. (Yan-Hua Liu 2009)These situations caused the problem that people in China are not familiar to communicate with people outside the country and enhance new cultures and learning styles. According to the reading materials, this is how intercultural communication takes place. (Carter and Nunan 2001) This will create a conflict between teacher and parents that learning English is not only a school subject or language; it is more like a process of meeting new cultures and enlarging  perspective. Parents also need to be educated to respect and enhance the culture differences. Historical perspective From the historical perspective, the great Chinese thinker and social philosopher Confucius has a great impact on student’s learning habit and influence the way of Chinese thinking. There are a lot of great ideas he had brought up. However, he had brought up one concept that people should not make mistake over three times on the similar subject. Even though his main idea is to share the concept of avoiding make mistakes on the same situation. It is deeply rooted in people’ mind of China which caused Chinese students are very afraid to make mistake in class, even to speak up. (Te-Sheng Ye2011) This situation puts ESL teacher in an awkward position. Students do not speak up in class; it is hard for teacher to assess how much do the students have enhanced in the language and how to adjust the lesson. Therefore, it is important for ESL teacher to communicate with parents about the way of learning English should be bolder and guide their children to learn from asking questions and learn from mistakes. Educational system The Educational system in China is really intense. There are too many people but only a few of them will be able to receive higher and better education. The few famous schools become really hard to get into and the standards become more and more strict. The educational policy makes both students and parents under tremendous pressure and force the competition between students become furious. Parents in China become very aggressive, they are afraid that their children will lose to the others. So, they cram their children with endless lessons after school which blots out the interest and motivation of learning to their children. Learning English is not interesting for Chinese kids, within grade three, they will be able to analyze the grammar error and sentence structures. Their aim to learn English is not communicate, is to score high marks in the non-stop examinations in order to get in good school. It is crucial for ESL teacher to guide those parents to think about learning English is not only to cater with the examinations but to enhance another language. And, to get good scores and get in a good school are just an added value when those children master the language well. Conclusion Learning English is not only between children and the teacher, it needs parents to get involved. The attitudes of parents are matter to the learning efficiency of the children. Teaching English in China is not easy, parts from the perspectives of closed policy, history and educational system, the most important part is to have affective communication with parents. Unless the communications between children, parents and teacher attain balance, the learning efficiency and the added in value will benefit the children the most. It is important for teacher to guide parents to know how to motivate and access in their children’s learning. The right way to educate parents is also a crucial issue to concern. Teacher should cultivate parents instead of seeing English as a school subject, it should be value more as the process will also teach students to experience and explore the world.

Brand Extensions In An FMCG Sector

Brand Extensions In An FMCG Sector Brand Extensions are a vital element for a business and it has become a very common practice for the companies, especially in the FMCG sector to grow in its sales and profit targets. Although, how much ever advantages brand extension possesses, it can still be of major risks in terms of brand dilution and its equity (Loken John, 1993). Understanding the consumers better is what adds of significant value or if not could lead to major failures. Brand owners or managers need to have a very thorough and holistic approach in this without damaging their brand image and equity built over the years. The purpose of this article is to find how Indian customers evaluate brand extensions within an FMCG context; How significantly different are they in respect of evaluations of their competitors around the world? Most significantly how well does the present literature on the topic of brand evaluations of brand extensions fit within the context of Indian consumers? As launching a new product takes considerable amount of time and money, companies are adopting brand extension strategy in order for them to achieve growth. Major FMCG (Fast moving consumer goods) companies like Unilever and P G, the use of brand extension is quite common as they concentrate on big brand names in order to generate sales. The logic of brand extension is that the brands value to consumers reduces the cost of market launch by gaining readier acceptance than creation of a new brand (Barwise Robertson, 1992, pp.277). The key reason for choosing this topic is to know how Indian consumers evaluate brand extensions in an FMCG context. This is relevant seeing the significant economic growth the country is experiencing even when other nations are struggling to recover from the global economic downturn. Furthermore, Indias economic growth is projected to reach 10% in couple of years and expected to beat China in the next four years (The Hindu, Business Line.com). 1.2 Motivation for choice for this topic Customer based brand equity occurs when the customer is familiar with the brand and holds some favourable, strong and unique brand associations in memory (Keller, 1993, pp.02). If a company chooses a wrong category of extension, then it can lead to a negative image of the parent brand. Lack of communication for promoting a new product can devaluate the Brand Equity as the wrong criteria of category extensions can create the perception of diminishment in the value of the brand. This article explores to find out as to which brands are more likely to succeed as brand extensions into new categories within the Indian packaged consumer goods environment. This could be better understood by understanding if certain established Indian FMCG brands be extended into other FMCG categories that they do not currently compete more successfully than newer brands? How do Indian customers actually seek to evaluate brand extensions and does this differ from greater literature covered in this topic? Introduction Across the globe, many companies are stretching the brand across different product areas to gain confidence to customers. In the UK a very prominent example is the Virgin group. With one single brand Virgin, the founder and CEO of the group, Richard Branson and his team have introduced and promoted so many diverse kinds of products, starting from airlines to mobile phone to Virgin Active. Since the start of the Virgin group in 1970s, Virgin has at the moment over 200 companies under its belt (Virgin.com). The success behind all this rapid expansion of the company according to its CEO is simply by its brand extension strategy. This article focuses influences on the type of brand on customer perception of the proposed brand extension and how distant each particular brand can be extended. A large percentage of brand extensions like the Virgin Cola end up as major failures. This has a very high influence in harming the reputation of the brand as well. To summarise this article discusses both on a existing literature on the topic and to know how Indian customers evaluate brand extensions? 2.1 Strategic framework of Brand Extensions Due to an ever increasing competition, brand marketers seek to achieve growth while reducing the cost of both new product introduction and the risk of new product failure (Swaminathan et al., 2001). Usually well managed brand extensions, cannot only help in reinforcing brand meaning but can also help to build up brand equity. However, a concern for many managers is its failure in the same way as how new products fail in the market. With the global recession recovering at a very slow rate, all kinds of luxury goods have been going on sale at very low prices. Prada is an example where there has been a tremendous decrease in its appeal in recent years. Although its runaway couture is pretty well made, but it bags are just another way to make money out of its brand name. These bags are not being sold for nearly more than half the price of its selling value. Due to the brand equity held by major brands, many risk not to extend their brands into new categories, mainly due to the equity held by these brands. Like that of Prada, many companies seek to launch into new brand names often failing in the process. There are another group that leap in without even understanding what exactly the customer wants and leading to a very high risk if they can be successful in their approach or not. New product launch criteria will require a very careful thought as to which and how the branding strategy needs to be applied, with which a new brand could be launched successfully. Furthermore, in the market today, the centre of attention among brand managers is rapidly moving towards leveraging those brands in their existing portfolio of branded products. 2.2 Key Objective of Investigation This article investigates on how consumers view the stretchability of existing Indian FMCG brands across multiple product categories. Can established and emerging Indian FMCG brands be extended successfully into new product categories, not related to the core brand? 2.3 Dissertation Structure The basic structure of this dissertation is as outlined below in the diagram:- Introduction Literature Review Methodology Findings and Discussion Conclusions, Recommendations Further Research References Appendix 2.4 Limitations This article is limited to investigating whether there is coherence between the recommendations in the literature and the findings from the research on how the consumers evaluate brand extensions in the Indian FMCG environment. Literature Review 3.1 The Objective of the literature review The main objective will be to understand in greater depth the key drivers that impact upon brand extension acceptance or non-acceptance in a new product category, the dilution/improvement of the brand image due to new extension and the effect that congruent and incongruent brand extensions have on customers perceptions of the core brand (Thorbjà ¸rnsen, 2005). Furthermore, a critical evaluation of previous works, in order to find a thorough consistency of thought on this topic. In this way, the reader can get a theory base pertaining to my literature review. According to Hofstee (2006), a good literature review shows:- The author is aware of what is going on the field There is a theory base on what the author intends doing How the authors work fits in with what has been already done in the past The work has a significant value This work will lead to a new knowledge 3.2 An Introduction to Brand Extension Brand Extension is the use of established brand names to enter completely new product categories (Aaker Keller 1990). It is the most frequently used branding strategy in business reality (Và ¶lckner Sattler 2006). In contrast Kotler, 1991 states that a brand extension strategy is any effort to extend a successful brand name to launch new or modified products or lines. Brand extension strategy can help companies leverage on its existing brand equity both within and the original category of products. Although, the profitability of brand extensions is not guaranteed, due to the high failure rate of 80% FMCGs (Mahajan et al,.2000 and Và ¶lckner Sattler, 2006). Kim, 2003 states that there are two broadly classified extension strategies namely:- Line Extension: A new Product within a current product category; Category Extension: A new product in a different product category, currently served by the parent brand; Close Extension/ Remote Extension: Distance of extension from the parent brands is uniquely and strongly associated. Tauber, 1981 states:- Franchise Extensions: To explain the phenomenon of leveraging the existing brands into new categories. Although all the above discussed extensions are quite clear in theory, the limits are much less clear in practice. For Example: Diet Pepsi could be placed in a new, narrower category of diet drinks, colas or carbonated soft drinks etc. Tauber, 1988 lists the below 7 types of brand extensions, a company should adopt:- Same Product in different form: When the company changes the form of the product from the original parent product; Example: Snickers Ice-Cream Bar or Mars Chocolate Thick Shake. Distinctive taste/ ingredient/ component in the new item: When a brand owns a flavour, ingredient or a component that the company owns and making it part of an item in a new category; Example: Kraft extended distinctive taste of Philadelphia into Philadelphia Cream Cheese Salad Dressing. Companion Products: Same brand extension of what the company actually makes; Example: Colgate Dental Tooth Paste with Colgate Tooth Brush. Same Customer Franchise: Here a brand extension represents a marketers efforts to sell something else to its customer base; Example: TATA extending its offering into consultancy, steel, automobiles, hotels, salt etc. Expertise: To offer extension in a category where consumers believe the company has skilled knowledge or skill; Example: Johnson and Johnson in baby oil, soap, baby bottles etc. Benefit/ Attribute/ Feature Owned: Many brands own a benefit or feature that can be extended; Example: Nivea Moisturising Cream, Shave Gel, Deodorants, Face Wash etc. Designer/Image Status: Using status or expertise in one area to strengthen offerings in another; Example: Giorgio Armani watches, spectacles, cosmetics etc. Co-branding is defined as pairing two or more branded products (constituent brands) to form a more sole and separate product (Park, et al., 1996). This has become increasingly evident in India and its FMCG market. The marketing of Gillette A3 Power Shaving equipment with Duracell batteries (both brands owned by Procter Gamble). Dabur, one of Indias leading FMCG companies have tied up with Disney consumer products by using the character Mickey Mouse to adorn Daburs Real brand jice and nectar packs. Indian Automobile giant Maruthi having partnership with Suzuki of Japan and Maruthi co-branding with Kenwood for its car stereos. Co-branding is the result of combining two brands to name a product and when evaluating that product, one has to consider overall fit between the brand pair and the product (Hadjicharalambous, 2006). Figure 3.1 represents the different types of brand extension classifications:- Figure 3.1: Typology of Brand Extensions (Hadjicharalambous, 2006) 3.3 Branding as a new Concept Shocker, et al., 1994 says that speed is an important element in building stronger brands as if not the competitors can leverage on similar technologies to duplicate similar products and identifies these criterias :- Harvesting the best customers:- Most innovative companies pick up customers who are more likely and willing to pay more; Occupying the mental corner stone:- Buyers keeping the option of selecting only few important brands over others; Developing a reputation for innovation:- Establishing a reputation of developing latest technology, part of brand equity and developing business customers; Shorter order fulfilment cycle:- GE uses a quick response programme using fast information technology, that lead to reducing inventory requirements by 200$; Mass Customization:- Permitting the brand manager to take advantage of market segmentation while controlling costs. Dell computer is the leader in this approach whereby all its products are made to order according to customer tastes. Keller (2001) states that building a strong brand has been main priority for many firms for financial rewards and suggests a Customer Based Brand Equity (CBBE) model to assist management in brand building steps which involves the following guidelines:- Establishing proper brand identity with proper breadth and depth of brand awareness Creating the appropriate brand meaning through strong, favourable and unique brand associations Eliciting, positive, accessible brand responses and Forging brand relationships with customers characterized by intense, active loyalty. Competitive Brand positioning especially during this current economic climate has become intense, when there are local brands competing with large multinationals to gain customer trust. According to Keller (2002) following are the five pitfalls to watch for:- Companies sometimes try to build brand awareness before establishing a clear brand position. For Example: Many dot-coms know this pitfall well as a number of them spent heavily on expensive television advertising without first being clear about what they were selling. Companies often promote attributes that consumers dont care about. For example: For years, companies that sold pain-killers claimed their brands were longer lasting than others. Eventually, they noticed that consumers wanted faster relief more than sustained relief. Companies sometimes invest too heavily in points of difference that can easily be copied. Positioning needs to keep competitors out, not draw them in as a brand that claims to be the cheapest or the hippest is likely to be leapfrogged. For Example: Fast food chains like Pizza Hut investing too heavily in their business, but unable to understand that what customers actually want is lower prices which the customers are able to get from non-recognised fast food outlets. Certain companies become so intent on responding to competition that they walk away from their established positions. For Example: General Mills used the insight that consumers viewed honey as more nutritious than sugar to successfully introduce the Honey Nut Cheerios product-line extension. A key competitor, Post decided to respond by repositioning its Sugar Crisp brand, changing the name to Golden Crisp and dropping the Sugar Bear character as spokesman. But the repositioned brand didnt attract enough new customers, and its market share was severely diminished. Companies may think they can reposition a brand, but this is nearly always difficult and sometimes impossible. For Example: Although Pepsi-Colas fresh, youthful appeal has been a key branding difference in its battle against Coca-Cola, the brand has strayed from this focus several times in the past two decades, perhaps contributing to some of its market share woes. Every attempt to reposition the brand has been followed by a retreat to the formers successful positioning. Care should be taken to see a brand is nurtured well before extending it so diversely in different categories. With the success of the core product in the short span, brand owners are tempted to extend its parent brand much sooner than done in the past. One such classic example is the Maggi brand launched in India in 1982 by Nestle India Ltd (NIL), the Indian subsidiary of global FMCG major, Nestle SA. NIL introduced a new category of instant noodles in Indian market called as Maggi Noodles. Due to the first mover advantage, NIL maintained its strong leadership in instant noodles category until the early 2000s. Furthermore, over the years Maggi brand was extended into soups, ketchups, sauces etc. Unfortunately, these product extensions were not as successful as the instant noodles. The failure of the extension into ketchup, soups suggests that the brand owners have been too quick in their philosophy that sufficient equity was built by their core brand (Maggi Noodles) for the transfer of positive effect to occur. Core Brand: Noodles Sauce Extension Soup Extension Successful Un-Successful Figure 3.2: Maggi Noodles Brand Extension Evolution 3.4 Brand Extensions in framework Tauber, 1981 suggested a growth matrix that differentiated brand extensions from other new product forms. This was done by viewing opportunity from the viewpoint of the brand owner. Following figure represents the different types of opportunities characterized according to whether they are in a product category new to the company and if the brand name used is actually new or already familiar to the consumer (Tauber, 1981). Product Category New Existing New Brand Name Existing Figure 3.3: Growth Matrix (Tauber 1981) Given the fast phase of change taken place in brand extensions since 1981, the above growth matrix was no longer considered of adequate use to guide brand strategy. This is when Lane and Sutcliffe, 2006 proposed a Jigsaw Brand Matrix to extend the existing literature on brand portfolio strategy. He proposed additional four options and five additional strategic categories (Figure 3.4) as illustrated below:- Figure 3.4: Jigsaw Brand Matrix (Lane Sutcliffe 2006) The four additional growth options as described by Lane and Sutcliffe, 2006 are as follows:- Piggybacking: When products enter a new category with a related brand name, then this is being used as a related brand name to launch new products For Example: Figure 3.5 shows Parle-G, Indias leading biscuit manufacturer attempting to enter the confectionary and snack market with Kisme Toffee bar and Poppins. Figure 3.5: Parle-G Piggybacking Strategy Associate brand: Here the product launch is related to a product category with a new brand name as the new product can work side by side with the parent in order to extend to new consumer segments. For Example: Below Figure shows an illustration by global beer supplier United Brweries extension from Beer into spirits, wines, vodka and in champagne to name a few. Figure 3.6: United Breweries (UB) Group Example of an Associate Brand Strategy Strength Extension: In order to capitalise and strengthen a parent brand, strategy of using an existing brand name to a related product category is being used. For Example: Below Figure illustrates Kissan Jam into Squeeze bottles of mango and in apple flavour. + Figure 3.7: Kissan Jams strength Extension Flanker: An established product having a related brand name fights for a fixed position within its parent category. For Example: In India, Hindustan Unilever Limited are masters in developing flanker brands and often have three or more products under the same brand name, targeted at different consumer segments as with the Surf brand. Figure 3.8: Hindustan Unilever Limited Flanker Extension Strategy with Surf Excel The other additional strategy directions are:- Matrix Branding: Here the brand and category extension are utilised without adopting a fully diversified or multi-branding category approach Diversified Branding: Dissimilar brands enter in a partly related or unrelated segment Elastic Branding: A broad range of related and non related product extensions centred around the core brand name Focus Branding: Use of existing core brand ad category to develop any product or service Multiple Branding: By focusing on the companys core brand category new brands are being focussed frequently. The Jigsaw Brand Matrix by Lane Sutcliffe, 2006 needs to be still verified across a different number of industries, although it is quite helpful for marketers in capturing branding strategy for extensions. However, the only disapproval is that this particular model doesnt address co-branding, which is widely used technique in the FMCG industries. 3.5 Advantages of Brand Extensions Brand Extensions enable firms to fill out their product lines, expand into related markets and increase revenue by licensing brand names for use in other product categories (Srinivastava, et al.,1998, pp.11). This has been supported by Smith Park, 1998 who demonstrates the positive impact of brand extensions have on the market share and advertising and proves on how brand extensions can lower significant costs. This is evident in the current economic downturn when firms try to extend their brands rather than venturing into new business. Volckner Sattler, 2006 provides an overview of conceptual framework (Figure 3.9) proposing that the success of a brand extension is influenced by direct effect of determinants, mediating effects and moderating effects. They determined the success of brand determinants into four groups namely:- Parent and Brand Characteristics; The extensions marketing context; The relationship between the Parent Brand and the extension product; The extensions product category characteristics. Figure 3.9: Overview of Conceptual Framework in Brand Extension (Volckner Sattler, 2006) Brand Equity too helps in the effectiveness of brand extensions as consumers who display trust and loyalty towards a brand are then willing to adopt brand extensions (Lassar et al.,1995) Research Design The objective of the research The objective of the research is to investigate the impact of similarity and dissimilarity between:- The original brands and the extension, Brand reputation, Core brand image, Brand dilution Effects of co-brands on the customer evaluations of brand extensions in the FMCG sector within the context of Indian environment Methodology The research method used during this stage will be of quantitative with questionnaires by use of face to face interviews. The main objective behind the methodology will be to measure the attitudes, beliefs and behaviours of respondents towards brand extension concepts The key steps being undertaken during this process will be as follows;- Checking all the possible ways to test my stated hypotheses Arriving at the exact optimum approach Drawing on a strict time-table for various research tasks Finalising the questionnaire Collection of data and structuring it into Excel and SPSS Finalising the questionnaire Analysis Conclusions and Recommendations Project Planning Schedule Work on the project is intended start in the first week of June 2010 and last a periods of sixteen weeks. Figure below gives a summary of how the project is intended to be carried out. It also shows the milestones to be achieved, the task management and the writing schedule as well. Task Duration June July August Sept. Wk 1 Wk 2 Wk 3 Wk 4 Wk 5 Wk 6 Wk 7 Wk 8 Wk 9 Wk 10 Wk 11 Wk 12 Wk 13 Wk 14 Wk 15 Wk 16 Detailed Literature Review 7 weeks Background to Questionnaire 2 weeks Familiarization with Methodology/Research Objectives 4 weeks Design of the Structure of Report 1 week Analysis of Hypothesis formulation 2 weeks Interviews and Data Acquisition 4 weeks Data Analysis and Conclusions 10 weeks FINAL WRITE UP Introduction/ Literature Review 3 weeks Surveys and Data Acquisitions 3 weeks Results, Discussions and Conclusion 4 weeks Abstract, Reference and Appendix 2 weeks Final Review 3 weeks Figure: Gantt chart showing Dissertation Planning Schedule Apart from the above schedule, regular meetings with my supervisor whenever necessary either personally or by email and keeping updated on my progress on a regular basis through draft, for review and feedback. Also, meetings as a group/individual will be attended to the deadlines as mentioned before by the supervisor.

Is Was Unfortunate That AIDS Hit The Gay Community First :: Gay Lesbian Issues Essays

Is Was Unfortunate That AIDS Hit The Gay Community First If the United States had known 20 years ago what it knows now about the transmission and progression of HIV, it would have most likely taken greater steps to contain the spread of the virus. However, it was then unknown that each diagnosed case of AIDS represented hundreds of cases of undiagnosed HIV in the greater population. It was also unknown that HIV's eight-year incubation coupled with its mode of sexual transmission would rapidly result in one of the worst epidemics in modern history. In hindsight it is unfortunate that AIDS first broke out among a sector of american society which was as marginalized and sexually liberated as was the gay male sector of american society. Despite all the positive measures taken by the gay community to promote AIDS awareness and research after the epidemic broke out, the adversarial relationship they had with the Reagan administration and the promiscuity associated with their sexual revolution contributed towards the spread of AIDS. In the HBO movie, And the Band Played On, adapted from Randy Shilts's best-selling book of the same title, it is suggested that the spread of the AIDS epidemic could have been contained had the health issue been given appropriate attention and funding from the outset. This may not be true. Whether or not AIDS could have been contained may have depended on the population it was affecting. If so, the fact that AIDS hit the homosexual population first may have been particularly unfavorable for two reasons. First, according to the best information on the risk of transmission associated with certain behaviors made available by the CDC, anal sex is the act mostly likely to transmit AIDS. Anal sex is practiced in the male homosexual population far more than in any other sector of american society. Second, the gay male population was considerably promiscuous in the early 1980s as a result of their recent sexual revolution. Sexually transmitted disease such as syphilis, gonorrhea, and HIV ran rampant through public bath houses, where gay men would engage in anonymous sex with other men. These two factors contributed significantly to the spread of AIDS. While it is impossible to know if the AIDS epidemic could have been completely contained, it is certainly true that an earlier understanding of the HIV virus and its modes of transmission would have dissuaded some people from engaging in the types of high-risk behaviors associated with HIV transmission, and hence saved lives.

Frogs :: essays research papers fc

Frogs are needed for everyday life. They are part of pond life. Each animal is important because even in the pond, there is a food chain. Frogs are amphibians, animals that spend half of their lives under water, and remainder on land. The first frog appeared in the early Jurassic period about 200 million years ago.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Frogs live on every continent except Antarctica, but tropical regions have the largest amount. Like all amphibians, frogs spend half their lives near water because they must return to the water to lay their eggs. Frogs live underwater mostly when the are growing up to be an adult frog and when they are laying their eggs. When they hatch under water they are tadpoles and the breath with gills and swim using a tail. As they mature they loose their tail and they develop to be able to breathe air. During an extensive period of heat, a drought, frogs can enter a period of damancy similar to hibernation called starvation. Most of the frogs live in tropical and semitropical regions, most species of frogs breed in the spring or in early summer. Although the different species my vary in size and color, mostly all frogs have basic body structure. They have large hind legs, short front legs and flat head and body with no neck.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Most frogs have teeth only on their upper jaw. Toads swallow their prey in one piece. To aid in the swallowing process, the frog’s eyes sink through the openings in the skull and force the food down its throat. Frogs eat insects, catching them with their long sticky tongue. They also eat small fish and worms. They also absorb concentrate to make them stronger, and toxins (poisonous substances) in their fatty tissues.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Since the 1980’s scientists have noted the decline of many frog species. People do not know for certain what has caused these declines. A possible factor is pollution, disease, habitat destruction, and acid rain. Another factor may be the thinning of the earth’s protective ozone layer, which allows more harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun to reach the earth. Because frogs have thin, moist skin and an aquatic tadpole stage, they are easily affected by pollution and changes in the environment.

Real Time Article :: essays research papers

The term's misuse creates misunderstanding both inside organizations and out in the market. Real time is expensive. Creating and managing technology applications that operate in real time require a lot of infrastructure, people, and processing power. These are unnecessary if you don't mind if an action occurs "just in time" or "some time later on." A few examples: Â · Real-time analytics and reporting. Does it matter? Depends on the use. For people only concerned with strategy insights, such as paths different visitors types take, or those focused on use of different navigation tools, real time is meaningless. If no action you can take in real time changes the user experience, then time and money spent to get information faster is overkill. The extra information is probably a distraction. If you're an editor and constantly adjust stories and headlines to respond to audience interest, then real-time data can make a difference. It may be a worthwhile investment. Bottom line, real-time analytics are good for tactical applications, overkill for strategic ones. Â · Real-time actionability. As with the above example, this matters if the desired action is tactical. Would very fresh information help someone or something take an action at the same time? If resulting actions are strategic only and not intended to be taken at the same instant the information is created, then real time is wasted technology. You don't need real-time audience information if you only use it at a weekly meeting to discuss behavior trends. Â · Real-time personalization. In personalization, real time is essential. If you want to personalize content for individual visitors, such as weather or commerce recommendations, you must do it in real time. You can't wait minutes or hours to update pages. Visitors won't be there anymore. You can't personalize content without recognizing users and changing content the moment they arrive. Of course, this can be quite expensive. Those with content management systems with personalization have a special appreciation for the processing and data management costs associated with real-time actions at scale. Â · Real-time ad segmentation and targeting. Another example of where real time can really matter. Ad targeting is a very frontline, tactical operation. If you want to deliver a specific ad to a specific type of person, you must identify the person and deliver the ad in real time. To deliver automotive ads to people who viewed automotive content, no matter where they go on the site, you must target as soon as they visit automotive content.

Europe’s Interaction with Africa, Asia Essay

In the mid-15th century, European nations started sending merchants, explorers, colonizers and missionaries to various parts of the world. Historians often referred to this phenomenon as the Age of Discovery, an era in which unknown seas were traversed, new lands and peoples were discovered and an astounding new phase in global encounters was initiated (Sanders, Morillo and Nelson 3). The Age of Discovery played an important role in the political and economic development of Western Europe. Some of its key legacies included colonization, the development of large-scale horticultural industries and the spread of Christianity. The Age of Discovery, however, is usually portrayed as exclusively European and historically unique. It must be made clear that such a description is misleading and incomplete. Exploration and expansion are not historical novelties, and neither are they uniquely European. Furthermore, they have other motivations, attitudes and cross-cultural perceptions apart from the desire to discover other lands (Sanders, Morillo and Nelson 3). Muslim and Chinese explorers and traders have been traveling across Asia, Arabia and Africa centuries before Christopher Columbus set out from Spain in 1492. The journeys of Ibn Battuta in the mid-14th century, for instance, took him through the vast extent of the Islamic world. Zheng He, a fleet admiral who lived during the Ming Dynasty, sailed as far as the coast of east Africa in the mid-15th century (Sanders, Morillo and Nelson 3). Tunisian philosopher and historian Ibn Khaldun traveled as far as Spain in the 14th century (Ahmed 102). But European and non-European explorers differed in terms of the motives behind their respective journeys. Non-European explorers traveled primarily to create extensive religious and trade networks. Muslims were partially bound by religion and commerce as a form of compensation for the near-absence of political unity in the Islamic world. Despite ethnic and regional differences, their adherence to Islamic laws and values provided them with a sense of unity and shared identity. The establishment of long-distance trading networks, meanwhile, allowed Muslim producers and consumers from different regions to communicate with one another, as well as with peoples of different religions (Sanders, Morillo and Nelson 4). Muslim traders therefore organized camel caravans to the frontiers of India and across the Sahara in Africa. They likewise established equally profitable trade routes by sea across the Indian Ocean. By the late 15th century, the commercial activity in most of the regions surrounding the Indian Ocean was almost under their control. Furthermore, certain localities in the Islamic world were gaining recognition for their excellence in specific industries. Persia, for example, was renowned in the 14th century for its exquisite glassware, jewelry and pottery (Sanders, Morillo and Nelson 4). Extensive trade and industry, in turn, provided the Islamic world with urbanized and cosmopolitan societies. Sophisticated commercial centers such as Cairo, Damascus, Baghdad, Timbuktu and Zanzibar attracted residents from distant regions that eventually converted to Islam. These new converts subsequently spread Islam and elements of Islamic culture to their respective homelands. The Delhi Sultanate of India and the West African kingdom of Mali are some examples of regions that were not originally Islamic but were later Islamized (Sanders, Morillo and Nelson 4). In sharp contrast, the motive behind most European explorations was the pseudo-revival of the Reconquista (the struggle of the Spanish and Portuguese Christians to expel the Moors from their respective countries). In the 14th and 15th centuries, anti-Moor sentiment was still strong in Spain and Portugal – it was during these periods that Spanish and Portuguese Christians successfully expelled the Moors from Iberia. But this victory soon left many knights idle and looking for new adventures. Many knights thus joined overseas expeditions, viewing these as new opportunities to vanquish the hated Moors (Sanders, Morillo and Nelson 5). Certain economic conditions in Europe during the 14th and 15th centuries were also responsible for the xenophobic attitude that many European explorers had during the Age of Discovery. In these eras, most European economies were still small, largely agrarian and geared towards meeting local needs. Muslim merchants and middlemen were the sole sources of spices and other luxury goods. In addition, Europe was politically fragmented – the continent’s monarchs wasted scarce resources and manpower in the numerous wars and conflicts that they waged against each other. Lastly, the Black Death (bubonic plague) killed millions and further weakened economies, adding to the pervasive atmosphere of dread and xenophobia (Sanders, Morillo and Nelson 5). Given the insular, backward and unsophisticated nature of Europe in the 14th and 15th centuries, it was no longer surprising that the expeditions from the continent had mostly detrimental effects. Many explorers viewed the natives that they encountered in foreign lands as â€Å"barbarians† that must be â€Å"civilized† by being subjugated to them. By the 16th and 17th centuries, therefore, many countries in Asia, Africa and the Americas ended up being the colonies of Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Britain and France (Sanders, Morillo and Nelson 5). In addition, the transatlantic slave trade occurred from the 16th to the 19th centuries. Mainstream historians had indeed painted a misleading and incomplete picture of the Age of Discovery. By claiming that the Age of Discovery was an exclusively European and historically unique phenomenon, they are implying that it was an event that was born out of Europe’s benevolent desire to discover other lands. But the truth is that the Age of Discovery should not be glorified. Exploration and expansion have already been taking place long before it happened – proof that the inhabitants of the regions outside of Europe are not savages. The Age of Discovery occurred at a time when Europe was still insular, backward and unsophisticated. Thus, many of the continent’s explorers exhibited a fearful and xenophobic attitude when it came to dealing with people not of their own race. This paranoia, in turn, led to the colonization of several nations in Africa, Asia and the Americas. In addition, slavery became a centuries-old practice. Works Cited Ahmed, Akbar S. Discovering Islam: Making Sense of Muslim History and Society. New York: Routledge, 1989. Sanders, Thomas, Stephen Morillo, and Samuel H. Nelson. Encounters in World History: Sources and Themes from the Global Past, Volume II: From 1500. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005.

The Influence of Humanity on Education and Women

The age of Enlightenment put forth the importance of humanism and reason, concepts that creates a balance between humanity's innate tendency to experience emotions while at the same time, cultivating a rational view of experiencing sensations and interactions around him/her. Indeed, discourses that were created and published in the 18th century reflected the use of reason in order to elucidate the nature of human beings. Enlightenment discourses,' in effect, provide an important insight into the humanism and reason that dwells inside the human mind. These important concepts of the Enlightenment were shown in the works of Mary Wollstonecraft and Jean Jacques Rousseau. Both being proponents and believers of the principles reflective of the Enlightenment, they expressed their views of how humanism and reason influenced their position about the role of women and feminism, and their relationship with education. In Wollstonecraft's â€Å"Vindication of the rights of women,† the author utilized reason as a tool to argue her point about the history of women's suppression when it comes to achieving quality education and fair regard with men in the society. Rousseau, meanwhile, in his work entitled â€Å"Emile† (or â€Å"On Education†), asserted that neither women nor men were suppressed or antagonized against each other, whether the comparison is on their rights, social status, and even privileges such as attaining education. He provided the ‘opposite face' of Wollstonecraft's argument of women suppression in society through their lack of education. Given these descriptions of the works of Wollstonecraft and Rousseau, this paper posits that the works of the authors share a similarity and difference that pertains to the issue of women's equality in attaining education and education in general. This paper argues that using both humanism and reason as foundations for their arguments, Wollstonecraft and Rousseau similarly believed that education must be achieved by all, although education in itself must not be confined to formal education, but to formative education done by the society as well. However, both differed in expressing their opinion concerning women's roles and feminism. Wollstonecraft believed that women had been suppressed and not given the privilege to acquire good formal and formative educations, while Rousseau believed that women were not hindered by society to receive education, and they can do so if they only willed themselves to achieve it. Presentation, analysis, and discussion of these arguments are supported with texts from Wollstonecraft's â€Å"Vindication of the rights of women† and Rousseau's â€Å"Emile. Wollstonecraft and Rousseau presented similar arguments when they discussed the issue of how society should develop and implement education for children and the youth. Both acknowledged the fact that formal education is important, although its state (in the 18th century) leaves more to be desired; in fact, they cited the deficiencies that formal education can have to people's learning and intellectual and moral development. They believed that formal education must include formative education, which means people must not only learn through accumulation of facts and information in schools and educational institutions, but also learn through constant interaction with other people. The youth must learn not only from within the walls of the classroom, but in the real world as well. Rousseau expressed his strong belief in formative education in â€Å"Emile. † In fact, the creation of the discourse itself was meant to critique and analyze the state of formal education as Rousseau observed it during his time. One of his critiques against formal education is that it tended to provide knowledge that is ‘quite limited,' even â€Å"censored† for the students. In expressing his disagreement against â€Å"censored† material used in teaching students, he stated, â€Å"[t]he literature and science of our century tend to destroy rather than to build up. When we censor others we take on the tone of a pedagogue†¦ In spite of all those books whose only aim†¦ is public utility†¦ the art of training men-is still neglected. Books and instructional materials are only useful as aids towards learning, but if these educational materials are â€Å"censored† and created in order to suit the institutions' needs rather than the students', then the â€Å"training of men† is forfeited. What results is a society where children and the youth depend on education to provide its learning knowledge, taking for granted ‘lessons' learned in real life, such as knowledge that comes out from daily interaction with other people and learning lessons from their everyday experiences in the outside world. Apart from the censorship in the educational material taught to students, Rousseau also cited the seemingly lack of imagination in the educational system. By ‘imagination,' he meant that people have become heavily dependent on information and knowledge already extant in the society in all kinds of discipline. Gone is the drive to discover new things in the natural and social environment, which makes human knowledge and most importantly, intellectual development, stagnant. Learning and knowledge accumulation must be a process in which students must think â€Å"out of the box,† an idea that should have been supported because this is what led to the age of Enlightenment. Without humanity's imagination and drive to learn more about the world they live in, perhaps the age of Enlightenment and Scientific Revolution Rousseau's society was benefiting from would not happen. He explicated in better terms his idea of thinking â€Å"out of the box† in the following passage from â€Å"Emile†: By freely expressing my own sentiment I have so little idea of claiming authority that I always give my reasons. This way people may weigh and judge them for themselves. But while I do not wish to be stubborn in defending my ideas, I think it my duty to put them forward†¦ Propose what is feasible, they repeatedly tell me. It is as if I were being told to propose what people are doing already, or at least to propose some good which mixes well with the existing wrongs†¦ Wollstonecraft had similarly expressed Rousseau's sentiments concerning formal education. In expressing her views about education (in general), she focused on the effect that intellectual development from schools have over the moral development of the students. Rousseau, on one hand, had not expressed explicitly his desire for an moral, alongside intellectual, development for humanity's youth. Wollstonecraft, on the other hand, had been more than explicit in expressing her desire for moral development as an individual goes through intellectual development. In â€Å"Vindication,† she expressed concern that the public and private education systems are focusing too much on the intellectual development of the individual, and might, over time, experience greater knowledge and learning without a strong and firm moral character. By emphasizing on moral and intellectual developments, Wollstonecraft strove to put a balance between the humanism and reason, the pillars of the Enlightenment that helped promote intellectual and social progress in human societies. Her fears of escalating moral degeneration for the future of 18th century society was expressed in her discourse, where she declared, †¦ children would be entirely separated from their parents, and I question whether they would become better citizens by sacrificing the preparatory affections, by destroying the force of relationships that render the marriage state as necessary as respectable. But, if a private education produces self-importance, or insulates a man in his family, the evil is only shifted, not remedied. By claiming that â€Å"evil is only shifted, not remedied,† Wollstonecraft meant that formal education does not prepare people for the knowledge that would become more important and useful in real life. This knowledge is not the wide expanse of information that one knows, nor the deep understanding of a discipline or study, but rather, the knowledge that one has in having the best judgment and manner of interacting with other people. Moral development, in effect, was considered more important than intellectual development because it is through a healthy psyche that humanity is able to move forward and leave the ways of the ‘primitive human. ‘ This primitive being is one who is not able to control his emotions and desires, seeking and pursuing these at the detriment of other people's lives and welfare. With social progress in mind, Wollstonecraft proposes that education or intellectual development is not the sole key to it, but morality reigning in human societies as well. Wollstonecraft and Rousseau expressed their similarities in the belief that moral development is just as important in attaining intellectual development. However, when it comes to discussing role of women in the society and feminism, the authors have different perspective toward these issues. Wollstonecraft's view of women and feminism is more radical and attempts to break the status quo (i. e. , the perceived dominance of males over females). Rousseau, meanwhile, sought to establish the fact that in general, men and women are equal in that they complement each other's differences. Thus, for him, their differences are nature's way of creating a balanced whole and harmony in the society. Wollstonecraft's views were apparent in her discussion of education, where, after criticizing education in general, she applied the issue of the achievement of formal education in the context of the women's sector and feminism. In her discussion of moral development as an essential factor in developing intellectual growth, she argued that women's lack of opportunity to achieve formal education also resulted to their lack of moral growth. This means that because they were not exposed to ideas that would encourage the development of a moral character, women were left to act and behave attitudes and character that they deemed as ‘right' and ‘pleasing' to the society. She expressed dismay over women's lack of privilege in education, both moral and intellectual, relegated her to the low and weak status in the society: No, it is indolence and vanity-the love of pleasure and the love of sway, that will rain paramount in an empty mind. I say empty emphatically, because the education which women now receive scarcely deserves the name. For the little knowledge that they are led to acquire, during the important years of youth, is merely relative to accomplishments; and accomplishments without a bottom, for unless the understanding be cultivated, superficial and monotonous is every grace. This passage reflected the fact that the perpetuation of a patriarchal society in the 18th century was due to many factors, which included the tolerance of women's lack of privilege to develop themselves intellectually and morally. If women will not understand the repercussions that education can have in their lives, they will remain as â€Å"indolent† individuals possessing an â€Å"empty mind†-individuals who remain unchallenged and unknowing because they lack the knowledge to survive in a world where survival not only depended on physically, but intellectually and morally as well. Rousseau offered an opposing opinion to Wollstonecraft's feminist ideals. In â€Å"Emile† (Book Five), he made it clear that â€Å"[t]o cultivate the masculine virtues in women and to neglect their own is obviously to do them an injury. Women are too clear-sighted to be thus deceived. When they try to usurp our privileges they do not abandon them. But the result is that being unable to manage the two, because they are incompatible, they fall below their own potential without reaching our's and loose half their worth. † This assertion reflected how women, in their desire to be equal in skills and knowledge as men, weaken themselves in the process, for they were not able to cultivate their own skills and knowledge. Attaining equality with men by aspiring for their characteristics is abandoning one's self and acquiring the identity of the other, thereby creating confusion and guilt. The woman is then left feeling weak because she had abandoned her true, strong self. It is through this point that Rousseau was able to explicate how males and females are equal in that they complement each other: one draws strength from the other, and become weak when they try to be not their true, strong selves.

A History of the World in 6 Glasses

A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage is a non-fiction historical novel, whose main purpose is to show the surprisingly pervasive influence of certain drinks on the course of history. Then it takes the reader on a journey through time to show the history of mankind through the lens of beverages. The thesis of the novel is that through history certain specialty beverages have affected more than just the diet of people and changed political aspects, economic standings, religious ceremonies and social views throughout human history. Standage clearly favors the subject written about and offers no information or analysis to disprove the thesis of the novel. Tom Standage is an author of 3 other novels, which are also historic analyses, which support his information and research provided in this book. Standage’s professional background gives novel its authority. A History of the World in 6 Glasses is broken down into six sections, one for each drink, the first of which is beer. Man's first civilizations where founded after the adoption of farming and the domestication of cereal grains. This improvement in lifestyle helped the â€Å"emergence of administrators, scribes, and craftsmen.† [1] Not only did beer nourish man’s first civilizations, but also â€Å"their wages and rations were paid in bread and beer.† [2] Wine, the next beverage, played a major role in the flourishing Greek and Roman cultures. Wine initiated vast seaborne trade, which spread their philosophy, politics, and literature. The book points out how these advancements originated and grew at formal Greek drinking parties. The Romans, who absorbed much of Greek culture, continued the strong use of wine. After the middle ages, Europe was awakened by the discovery of ancient knowledge, safeguarded by Arab scholars. The Age of Exploration/Colonial Period was improved by the knowledge of distillation, which made new drinks. The novel describes how these condensed forms of alcohol (Brandy, Rum etc.) were so popular, especially in the American colonies, that â€Å"they played a key role in the establishment of the United States.† [3] The fourth beverage presented is coffee. Coffee quickly became the drink of intellect and industry being known to sharpen the mind. Taverns were replaced with a more sophisticated meeting place, the coffeehouse. These â€Å"led to the establishment of scientific societies and financial institutions, the founding of newspapers, and provided fertile ground for revolutionary thought.† [4] Once established as England's national drink, tea imports from first China and India led to massive trade. The book describes the power of the British East India Company, which â€Å"generated more revenue than the British government and ruled over far more people,† wielding more power than any other corporation in history. [5] This imbalance of power had an enormous effect on British foreign policy, and led to the independence of the U.S. Like most of the drinks discussed in this novel, Coca-Cola was originally devised as a medical drink. More than any other product, Coca-Cola has stood as the symbol of America's â€Å"vibrant consumer capitalism.† [4] Rather than shrink at the challenge, Coca-Cola took full advantage of the challenging times it found itself in, gaining ground through the depression, and then traveling alongside our soldiers into WWII, becoming a global phenomenon. A History of the World in 6 Glasses is very useful and beneficial to the AP World History curriculum. In a teaching course, the teacher could assign a chapter of reading as homework in each unit. For example, the beer chapter would be in Unit 1, wine at the end of Unit 1 or beginning of Unit 2. Spirits and Coffee could be assigned in Unit 3, Tea in Unit 4, and Coca-Cola in Unit 4 and 5. Teaching the kids through a different view of the world would be its unique contribution to the program. Tom Standage, the author, was successful in proving his thesis throughout the novel. The thesis is clearly stated in the introduction, then supported throughout each chapter and then reiterated in the epilogue. There was plenty of evidence in the book, including quotes, poems, statistics pictures, maps etc. The book was not bogged down in a specific part, though it sometimes went into too much detail of the process of making the beverage. I have to confess that when I first picked up A History of the World in 6 Glasses, I did not expect to enjoy it. Firstly, I was wondering how a book could to sum up world history in less than 300 pages. Second, I do not drink 4 of the 6 beverages discussed in this book. Therefore, I was not keen on learning about their histories. However, I quickly learned that this book is more than just how and when these 6 drinks were made, but how it affected our modern world. A History of the World in 6 Glasses makes it clear that the history of mankind is a history of our consumption. Whether we are pondering revolution in a Coffeehouse in Paris or throwing tea leafs into the ocean in Boston, these drinks have had an impact on who we are. I highly recommend this book to anyone thirsty for knowledge! As Standage says, â€Å"They survive in our homes today as living reminders of bygone eras, fluid testaments to the forces that shaped the modern world. Uncover their origins, and you may never look at your favorite drink in quite the same way again.† [6]